JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram each score twice in Sabres’ win over Senators

JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram each score twice in Sabres’ win over Senators

JJ Peterka scored two power-play goals and defenseman Bowen Byram tallied twice, lifting the host Buffalo Sabres to a 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.Peterka also had an assist as p

JJ Peterka scored two power-play goals and defenseman Bowen Byram tallied twice, lifting the host Buffalo Sabres to a 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Peterka also had an assist as part of his third three-point performance in his NHL career.

Buffalo’s Tage Thompson scored and set up a goal while registering 11 shots on goal.

Ryan McLeod and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin notched two assists and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 37 saves to help the Sabres halt their three-game losing skid.

Ottawa’s Ridly Greig scored in the second period and captain Brady Tkachuk had an assist to extend his point streak to five games.

Linus Ullmark turned aside 29 shots for the Senators, who have dropped five of six games on the road (1-5-0).

Buffalo opened the scoring at 6:37 of the first period after Jason Zucker fed Peterka from behind the net. Peterka, who was stationed along the goal line, immediately wristed a shot that caromed off Ullmark and into the net.

Lukkonnen made the slim advantage stand up late in the first period by denying Noah Gregor on a 2-on-none rush following a turnover by Thompson.

The Sabres doubled the advantage just 17 seconds into the second period after McLeod’s sharp pass from along the left-wing boards to the right circle found Byram, who wristed a shot past Ullmark.

Greig jammed home his own rebound to halve the deficit at 7:31 of the second period before Buffalo responded with two goals in 16 seconds early in the third period.

Byram’s shot from just inside the blue line slipped past Ullmark just 21 seconds into the third period.

Thompson was credited with a goal shortly thereafter to give the Sabres a three-goal advantage. He fell to the ice in the crease before the puck banked off his shoulder and into the net for his team-leading eighth of the season.

Peterka’s one-timer from the right circle capped the scoring at 12:08 of the third period.